Items Tagged with 'Consumer Price Index'

Food prices for consumers ticked up in February, as a 1.4% increase in the cost of fruits and vegetables helped drive an overall 0.4% hike in the cost of groceries, according to the latest Consumer Price Index.

The cost of eating at home jumped 0.7% in December, driven by the continued surge in beef prices and increases in a broad range of other foods, including dairy products, cereal and baked goods, and fruits and vegetables. Beef prices rose 1% in December and are up 16.4% over the past year.

Rising beef prices continue to put pressure on consumers, as the cost of eating at home rose 0.3% in September, driven largely by increases for beef, pork, bakery products and cereal.

The cost of eating at home surged 0.6% in August as beef prices continued to climb, and consumers had to pay more for produce, including tomatoes, apples and lettuce. A food industry official said tariff exemptions on some imported foods could provide consumers some relief.

The cost of eating at home was unchanged in July despite increases in the cost of milk and beef, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported. 

The cost of groceries rose 0.3% for the second month in a row and is up 2.4% from a year ago. The index for beef rose 2% after declining slightly in May and is up 10.6% from a year ago.

Herders blocked from ag overtime relief * State Farm rates to increase * We’re on ‘side of angels’ * RFK back on the Hill

The cost of groceries jumped in March on higher prices for meat, eggs and milk, despite an overall decline in the cost of living. The overall Consumer Price Index fell 0.1% last month.

Higher prices for eggs helped drive a 0.3% increase in the cost of groceries in December. Beef prices rose 0.5%, while chicken and pork prices were 0.3% higher.

Poultry farms in California, Utah, Oklahoma, Tennessee and much of the Midwest are seeing a resurgence of highly pathogenic avian influenza cases, sending egg prices upward in the holiday season.